HB 1513 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

Board of Trustees of the MS Adoption Licensure Authority; authorize and regulate adoption procedures.

HB 1513 would create a new Board of Trustees to regulate adoption agencies in Mississippi, directly affecting adoption service providers, attorneys handling adoptions, and child welfare systems. The bill establishes the "Mississippi Adoption Relief Fund" to cover board costs and amends laws to define adoption services, require agency licensing through the new board, prohibit attorneys from sharing adoption fees, and link child support compliance to license renewals. Key mechanisms include setting board membership (three from child services, three from adoption agencies, three from residential care agencies), requiring adoption agencies to pay licensing fees into the fund, and adding rules for fee transparency. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and never became law.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill title was updated from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the House', indicating the bill has moved from committee review to the House floor for final passage. This change reflects the legislative process stage rather than substantive policy modifications.

TECHNICAL

Removed '(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)' designation from the bill title.

Added '(As Passed the House)' designation to the bill title.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill amends Mississippi's adoption licensing laws to create a new Board of Trustees for the Mississippi Adoption Licensure Authority, establish an Adoption Relief Fund, and strengthen oversight of adoption agencies. Key changes include new definitions of adoption services, stricter financial disclosure requirements, child support enforcement provisions that can suspend licenses, and updated licensing procedures for agencies.

Scope change

The bill expands oversight from the Department of Child Protection Services to include a new Board of Trustees that will have licensing authority for adoption agencies, while the Department retains oversight for foster homes and residential child-caring agencies.

STRUCTURE

Created a new Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Adoption Licensure Authority with three members each appointed by the Commissioner of Child Protection Services, licensed adoption agencies, and residential child-caring agencies.

FISCAL

Established the Mississippi Adoption Relief Fund with sources including appropriations, interest, donations, licensing fees, and other funds, to be used for board duties related to adoption agency licensing.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for adoption services including finding adoptive parents, placing children, soliciting money, adoption counseling, financial aid, and advertising for birth mothers.

REQUIREMENT

Required adoption agencies to have an executive director domiciled in Mississippi and to be Mississippi nonprofit organizations.

Added requirements for adoption agencies to provide annual audits, fee schedules, and client lists to the department.

Required adoption agencies to have a physical presence in Mississippi sufficient to conduct all adoption services.

Prohibited attorneys from sharing fees with unlicensed persons or entities in connection with adoption services.

ENFORCEMENT

Authorized the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to suspend hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses of individuals who have not paid child support orders.

Allowed any party to submit proof of child support arrearage to licensing entities, which can then suspend licenses of non-compliant individuals.

TIMELINE

Set initial board member terms ending June 30, 2029 for Commissioner and residential child-caring agency appointees, and June 30, 2028 for adoption agency appointees.

Floor votes · House Feb 5, 2025

How they voted

117–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 119

Feb 5, 2025

D Democratic39

39 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican78

76 Yea 2

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary, Division A;Appropriations

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

lower

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Youth and Family Affairs

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors